Nail-extractor



T. D. RICHARDSON.

NAIL EXTRACTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 2, 1920.

1,395,522. Patented Nov. 1, 1921..

77bmas D. Pic/141216021.

UNITED STATES THOMAS D. RICHARDSON, OF CHEYENNE, WYOMING.

NAIL-EXTRACTOR.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1, 1921.

Application filed March 2, 1920. Serial No. 362,854.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THOMAS D. RICHARD- soN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cheyenne, in the county of Laramie and State of lVyoming, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Nail-Extractors, of which the following is a specifi cation.

This invention has for its object the provision of a simple, inexpensive, and eflicient tool, by the use of which nails may be readily withdrawn from the parts secured by them. A further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the nail-engaging members may be removed when it is desired to use the device as a nail driver. The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and consists in certain novel features which will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is an elevation of my improved nail-extractor;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section with parts in elevation; i

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

In carrying out my invention, I employ a tubular standard 1 which is annularly enlarged near its lower end, as shown at 2, the surface of this enlargement being serrated or otherwise formed so that a firm grip may be obtained thereon. A passage 3 is formed through this enlargement and leads obliquely from the upper end thereof to the bore of the tubular standard so that a nail placed in the upper end of the said passage will gravitate into the bore and to the bottom of the same, as will be readily understood. The lower end of the tubular standard is tapered, as shown at 4, and above the said tapered portion is an annular rib or flange 5 having a notch 6 provided therein for a purpose which will be presently stated. An annular groove is formed around this tapered extremity to receive a split ring whereby the nail extractor will be retained in position. WVithin the tubular standard is snugly but slidably fitted a plunger 8 which is provided at intermediate points of its length with shoulders 9 adapted to engage corresponding internal shoulders on the bore of the standard so that the downward movement of the plunger will be limited and crushing of the lower end thereof will be thereby prevented. The upper extremity of the plunger 8 is threaded,.as shown at 10, to engage an internally threaded socket in the lower end of the handle or head 12, and this threaded connection between the plunger and thehandle permits the plunger to be adjusted so that the lower end thereof cannot project beyond the lower end of the standard or may be permitted to extend slightly through said lower end when it is desired to countersink a driven nail. The lower end of the handle 12 is annularly expanded, as shown at 13, and the under side of this expanded or enlarged lower end is fiat. In order to have the desired weight in the handle, it may be provided with a filler 15 of lead or similar material.

At the upper end of the standard and on opposite sides of the same, I form the offsets 16 which are preferably parallel with each other and are constructed with channels or grooves to receive die plates 18 which are of hardened steel and are provided with slots 19 to receive the extremities of securing screws 20 which are mounted in the outer sides of the oflsets, as shown in Fig. 2, to clamp the die plates against the inner wall of the respective recess or groove 17. lVhen it is necessary or desired to straighten a bent nail, the nail is placed within the upper portion of the recess or groove 17 so as to rest on the upper edge of the die plate, and the plunger is then brought forcibly downward so that the lower surface 14 of the head 12 will impinge upon the bent portion of the nail which will be straightened under the force of the blow.

The nail extractor comprises a foot 23 pivotally attached, as at 24, to a leg member 25. The leg member consists of a hub or socket portion 26 adapted to fit around the tapered lower end l of the standard, and is constructed with an internal annular groove adapted to receive a split ring 27 which will also seat in the external groove of the said extremity 4 of the standard, so that the expansion of the ring will hold the extractor upon the standard and normally prevent relative longitudinal movement of the parts, while relative annular movement of the standard or the extractor is prevented by a lug 28 on the upper end of the socket member 26 fitting within the notch 6 in the flange 5 as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of the leg member of the extractor is formed into a claw 29 which is opposed to and adapted to cooperate with a similar claw 30 forming the heel of the foot member 23, the toe member 31.0f the foot being disposed laterally with respect to the leg member and adapted to rest upon the surface from which a nail is to be extracted. In the illustrated arrangement, the foot is provided with an internal opening or chamber 32 through which the claw 29 of the leg member passes and within which the pivotal connection 24: is located. A radial threaded opening 3 1 is formed in the hub 26 so that if the split ring 27 should break, a setscrew may be inserted as an emergency holding device. 7

When nails are to be driven by the use of my improved tool, the nail extractor is removed, this result being attained by the exertion of a slight manual force upon the leg 25 so that the tension of the split ring 27 will be overcome and the ring contracted into the groove 7 to permit the socket or hub member 26 to ride readily over the ring. A reverse movement will, of course, readily engage the extractor upon the post or standard.

When the extractor is in position and nails are to be withdrawn, the foot is placed upon the secured part and may be held with the claw 30 against the head of the nail by pressure exerted upon the toe 31 ;V and it is to be understood that the socket member 26 is constructed with a slight recess 33 to receive the lower end of the plunger so that blows delivered upon the leg member by the plunger will forc the claws 29 and 30 into the wood or other surface so that they will readily engage under the headvof the nail.

The claws 29 and 30 having thus been posiwill engage under the nail head'so that the continued movement of the standard'will exert an upward pressure upon the nail head and withdraw the nail from the part into which it was driven.

My improved tool is exceedingly simple in-the construction and arrangement of its parts and may be produced at a very low cost. 7

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is:

1. In a nail-extracting tool, the combination of a tubular standard having a tapered lower end provided with an external annular groove, a plunger slidably mounted in the standard,a nail-extractor comprising a socket member adapted to fit uponthetapered lower end of the standard and provided with an internal annular groove, and a split ring engaging in the said annular grooves;

2. In a nail-extractingtool, the (zombi V nation of a tubular standard, a plunger slidably mounted in the standard, afoot including a socket fitted on the lowerend of the standard and having a recess to receive the end of the plunger, and cooperating claws on said foot to engage a nail head.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

THOMAS ppRIcnAnuson. [-L. 8.] 

